Biography

Caitlin Barry is an associate in the firm’s Chicago Office. She is a member of the Product Liability and Medical Negligence and Healthcare Practice Groups. She concentrates her practice in the representation of automotive, material handling and other product manufacturers in the defense of product liability actions. A substantial portion of Caitlin’s practice is devoted to the defenses of businesses of all sizes in various casualty and catastrophic injury claims. Her practice also includes commercial litigation and business disputes, class action defense, construction, medical malpractice and general tort liability. At Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Caitlin serves as chairman of the Product Liability Practice Group and chairman of the Fire & Explosion Practice Group. 

Prior to joining Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, Caitlin clerked at a Chicago law firm where she gained extensive experience defending clients through all stages of litigation in a broad range of consumer financial service, banking and commercial disputes. During law school at DePaul University College of Law, Caitlin was the Associate Editor of Notes and Comments for the DePaul Law Review and was a member of the student bar association.

Caitlin practices in both Illinois state and federal court, and federal courts in Wisconsin and Indiana. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois, the Western District of Wisconsin and the Southern District of Indiana.

Practices

General Trial Practice
Product Liability
Medical Negligence and Healthcare
Construction
Class Action Defense

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Bar Association
  
  •  Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice
  • Chair-Elect TIPS Product Liability Committee
• Chicago Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
  
  • Young Lawyers Steering Committee
  • Young Lawyer Council
• Illinois State Bar Association

Awards

• Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2024-2025
• Selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition, 2024-2025

Publications

• “A Blockbuster Summer: Automatic Emergency Braking, Barbie and Oppenheimer,” Trial Tort and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Products Liability Committee Newsletter of the American Bar Association, September 2023, Michael A. McCaskey, Caitlin M. Barry, E. Tripp Burton.

Presentations

• Speaker, DePaul Business & Commercial Law Journal’s Alumni Panel Discussion, September 2023
• “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems,” Company Presentation, Novi, Michigan, August 2022

News

Chicago, March 11, 2025
Barry Co-Authors Case Law Compendium for DRI Product Liability Conference
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is pleased to announce that Caitlin M. Barry, an associate in the firm’s Product Liability Practice, co-authored the Case Law Compendium for the Defense Research Institute's (DRI) Product Liability Conference held February 19-21, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Chicago, March 07, 2025
Barry Attends 2025 DRI Young Lawyers Steering Committee Fly-In Meeting

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorney, Caitlin M. Barry, participated in the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Young Lawyers Steering Committee Fly-In Meeting in Chicago on February 8, 2025.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, January 23, 2025
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Recognized as 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

Chicago, November 15, 2024
Barry Reelected to DRI's Young Lawyers Steering Committee and Appointed to the Young Lawyer Council
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP associate Caitlin M. Barry has been reelected to be a part of the Defense Research Institute's (DRI) Young Lawyers Steering Committee and has been appointed to the Young Lawyer Council for the 2024-2025 term. The DRI Young Lawyer Committee is dedicated to providing its members with the best professional development, quality CLE programs, and networking opportunities. With 24 active subcommittees and liaisons to every DRI substantive committee and SLDO, there is an opportunity for everyone.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, Indiana, Kansas City, August 15, 2024
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2025 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Fifty-six Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® lists. In addition, Partners Michael W. Drumke and Gary C. Pinter were recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" in their respective practice areas.

Chicago, Libertyville, January 25, 2024
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Swanson Martin & Bell LLP is proud to announce that 15 of the firm's attorneys have been honored as 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars.

September 25, 2023
McCaskey, Barry and Burton Author Automatic Emergency Braking Article for the ABA
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys Michael A. McCaskey, Caitlin M. Barry, and 2023 Summer Associate Tripp Burton are featured on the cover of the Trial Tort and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Products Liability Committee Newsletter of the American Bar Association (ABA).

September 20, 2023
Barry to Speak at DePaul University College of Law Alumni Panel
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Associate Caitlin M. Barry will serve as a panelist for DePaul Business & Commercial Law Journal's Alumni panel discussion on September 27 at DePaul University College of Law.